In our December issue, CR takes a tour around Liverpool's independent creative scene, meets the remarkable Dutch book designer Irma Boom and has a free gift for all our readers – a paper toy to cut out, keep and customise

It all began with an angry comment on a blog post (this blog post). CR was challenged to "take their heads from their pretentious London backsides and take a trip up to Liverpool" to discover what we were promised was a vibrant independent creative scene. So we did: you can read CR editor Patrick Burgoyne's report on Liverpool in the new issue. And Liverpool-based designer Russell Reid designed this month's cover using elements from various artists featured in the article

If you would like to buy this issue and are based in the UK, you can search for your nearest stockist here. Based outside the UK? Simply call +44(0)207 292 3703 to find your nearest stockist. Better yet, subscribe to CR for a year here and save yourself almost 30% on the printed magazine.

Our Monograph this month (for subscribers only) is also Liverpool-related: it features work produced for the Screenadelica gig poster project run by graphic designer Horse, who lives and works in the city

Poster for The National by Sean Mort

Posters for British Sea Power (l) by Telegramme and Brian Wilson by Lesley Barnes

Posters for The Cure (l) by Matt Saunders and White Denim by Craig Robson

Elsewhere in the issue, Eliza Williams interviews Irma Boom

And she also reports on Dentsu London's attempts to invent a new ad agency model

Christopher Adams of the Estorick Collection looks back on the remarkable career and life of Edward McKnight Kauffer

And in our Crit section, designer Michael Cina reviews the Walker Art Center's Graphic Design: Now in Production show

Following their work on the new British Gas logo, CHI&Partners' Dan Beckett discusses ad agencies' moves into brand identity with Wally Olins

We have reports on the Semi-Permanent conference in Australia and a piece on Berthold Wolpe's wonderful typographic covers for Faber

And Michael Evamy's regular logo column looks at the Helvetica-with-a-twist identity of US homeware chain Crate and Barrell

And Gordon Comstock rails against the iniquities of the advertising pitch process

Last, but by no means least, we have something special for readers this month. Gavin Lucas writes on the new trend for paper toys

To tie in with this piece, we have bound a template for a blank paper toy, specially designed for us by Tougui, into every issue.

In association with Arjowiggins, we have a challenge for you. We'd like readers to cut it out and make up the toy, which should look like this

Then we'd like you to customise your toy and send us a picture of your design (email them to emma.tucker@centaur.co.uk). There will be a prize for our favourite. Enjoy.

If you would like to buy this issue and are based in the UK, you can search for your nearest stockist here. Based outside the UK? Simply call +44(0)207 292 3703 to find your nearest stockist. Better yet, subscribe to CR for a year here and save yourself almost 30% on the printed magazine.